Knife support



April 22, 1924. 1,491,623

w. PITCHUR KNIFE surronw Filed Anril 20. 1922 WITNESSES INVENTOR W Pun/{me A TTORNEYS Patented Apr. 22, 1924.

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KNIFE SUPPORT.

Application filedApril 20, 1922. Serial No. 555,664.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER PITGHUR, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York. borough of-Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Knife Support. of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in table knives, and it pertains more particularly to a support therefor.

It is a primary object of the invention to provide means for supporting a table knife in such a manner that the blade ofthe knife will be out of contact with the support upon which the knife is carried.

It is a further object of the invention to provide means associated with a table knife whereby the blade will be maintained out of contact with the table or table linen regardless of the position of the knife.

Itis a further object of the invention to provide in connection with means for supporting the knife, a finger rest by means of which pressure may be exerted upon the knife without discomfort to the finger of the user.

It is a further object of the invention to so 30 construct the knife that the finger rest forms one of the supporting elements thereof when the knife is lying on its side.

lVith the above and other objects in view, reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is atop plan view of a knife provided with a supporting element constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a view thereof in side elevation;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the knife support constructed in the form of a removable attachment;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a knife wherein the supporting elements are formed rigid or integral with the knife blade.

Referring again to the drawings and more particularly to Figs. 1 to 4, the reference character designates the blade of the knife, and 11 designates the handle. The reference character 12 designates a foot or the like, and said foot or the like comprises a base portion from which projects a resilient arm 13. Secured to the resilient member 13 and lying in a plane at substantially right angles thereto is a finger rest 14. This finger rest 14 is substantially circular in form and at a point diametrically opposite the point where the resilient arm 13 is joined thereto, is a plurality of spaced downwardly curved lugs 15. Adjacent the curved arm 13 is a lug 16 spaced with respect to said arm to provide a knife blade-receiving slot 17 As more clearly shown in Fig. 3 the base 13 is provided on that side opposite to the resilient arm portion 13, with a curved wall 18, and said curved wall 18 is provided with a full or raised portion 19, said portion '19 being adapted to receive the knife blade therebehind as shown in said figure.

The device functions as follows:

The back of the blade is engaged with the notch 17 adjacent the lug 16, and is also positioned in the space'b'etween the two lugs 15. After this has been done, the edge of the knife is engaged with the edge 18 of'the base 12 and the knife is forced over the full portion 19 of said base 12, the resiliency of the arm 13 permitting of the blade passing over the portion 19.

When the device has been positioned upon the knife, it is only necessary to rest the knife upon the table with the rear end of the handle 11 and the portion 12 in engagement with the table and the blade will be supported out of contact therewith as clearly shown in Fig. 10. Should, however, the knife be accidentally turned over, the edge of the finger rest 14 will engage the table and together with the portion 12 prevent contact of the blade of the knife with the table.

In using the knife for cutting the food, the index finger of the hand with which the knife is gripped, is engaged with the finger rest 14 and this construction permits of the application of pressure to the knife blade without causing discomfort to the finger of the operator.

In that form of the invention shown in Fig. 5, the reference character designates a foot or base formed as an integral part of the knife blade 31 or soldered thereto as the case may be. The finger rest in this-form of the invention is designated by the reference character 32 and consists of a flat plate having angular projections 33. These angular projections 33 serve together with the ends 34 of the foot 30, to support the plate 31 of the knife out of contact with the table should the knife be accidentally knocked over upon its side.

In view of the foregoing it is. apparent that the present invention provides a new and improved form of table knife by means of which the same may be supported upon the table with its blade out of contact with said table thus preventing a soiling of the table linen, and, at the same time, providing a finger rest for aiding in the use of the knife without discomfort on the part of the user.

iVhile in the present instance but two forms of the invention have been shown, it is obvious that minor changes may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A knife attachment comprising a body portion constituting a pressure-receiving element, a pair of spaced lugs on opposite sides of said body portion, said lugs adapted to receive between them an edge of a knife blade, a resilient arm extending from one of said lugs and adapted to occupy a position adjacent the side of the blade of the knife to which the device is attached, and means for receiving the opposite edge of the knife to retain the attachment in position thereon.

2. A knife attachment comprising a flat body portion having oppositely disposed pairs of lugs, said body portion occupying a position on one edge of a knife blade and said lugs serving toprevent movement of the body portion relative to the knife blade, a resilient arm extending from one of the lugs of one of said pairs of lugs, and a shoulder formed on said resilient arm and adapted to receive one of the edges of the knife blade and simultaneously place said arm under tension to retain the device in position upon the knife.

3. A knife attachment comprising a flat body portion having oppositely disposed pairs of lugs, said "body portion occupying a position on one edge of a kni lie blade and said lugs serving to prevent movement of the body portion relative to the knife blade, a resilient arm extending from one of the lugs of one of said pairs of lugs, and a shoulder formed on said resilient arm and adapted to receive one of the edges of the knife blade and simultaneously place said arm under tension to retain the device in position upon the knife, said arm being provided with a laterally disposed base to provide a support whereby the knife is main tained out of contact with the surface on which it is supported.

WALTER PITCHUR. 

